"This year's honorees are a prestigious group of diverse and influential creators who have contributed some of the most distinguished and influential recordings," said Recording Academy President Neil Portnow. "Their work exemplifies the highest artistic and technical standards, creating a timeless legacy that has positively affected multiple generations, and will continue to influence generations to come."

Cream (Ginger Baker, Jack Bruce, and Eric Clapton)
Considered one of the first jam bands, Cream's combination of blues and rock, along with their remarkably energetic style, left a permanent musical mark and established them as one of the greatest live bands of the '60s. They set a standard of inventiveness and originality, thus paving the road for many other hard and progressive rock bands that emerged after them.

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Eric Clapton is in the contest for Best Solo Rock Vocal Performance with Revolution (a track from his album Back Home).

Eric's album "Back Home" (engineers: Alan Douglas & Mick Guzauski) is in the contest for Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical.

Blind Faith “Hyde Park 1969” now set to be released 10th April 2006
News entry published on 18 January 2006 / Last modified on 18 January 2006

As was mentioned in our related news articles the Blind Faith DVD "Hyde Park 1969" had been put on hold for a temporary period. Today (18 January 2006) Sanctuary Visual Entertainment announced the new release date, namely 10th April 2006. Below the official press release.

PRESS RELEASE

Blind Faith
London Hyde Park 1969
10th April 2006

Blind Faith's debut gig was in front of a cool 100,000 people on a warm day in Hyde Park. Since 7th June, 1969 when this concert took place, it has never been seen in its entirety. This is a unique opportunity to see the world's first Supergroup perform for the very first time. Sanctuary Visual Entertainment will release "Hyde park 1969" the DVD on 10th April 2006.

The audience gathered in London's central Hyde Park, were filled with anticipation awaiting Blind Faith's debut. The newly formed collective of four virtuoso musicians who individually were already rock royalty, were the talk of the town and expectations both within the band and out amongst the counter-culture generation crowd, were high. Fusing the psychedelic blues of Eric Clapton and the soulful vocals and keyboards of Steve Winwood, with Rick Grech on Bass and the phenomenal Ginger Baker on drums, they didn't disappoint. The set may have lasted just over 40 minutes long, but fans were treated to a selection of timeless tracks including 'Presence Of The Lord', 'Sleeping In The Ground' and The Rolling Stones classic 'Under My Thumb'.

The DVD "Hyde Park 1969" also boasts archive footage of the various members of Blind Faith performing within their earlier musical guises. Clips of the Spencer Davies Group performing 'I'm A Man', Traffic's 'Hole In My Shoe', Family performing 'Dim' and Cream with 'Sunshine of Your Love', act as a gentle introduction to the main concert event.

There is also a discography for all the members of Blind Faith pre 1969, plus a collection of rare photos set to the sounds of 'Well All Right'.

By the end of the 60s with hippies still dancing on the horizon and a man on the moon a new form was taking shape on this musical stage. The Supergroup: a band of highly talented individuals creating a new musical experience.

The very first of these was Blind Faith consisting of Steve Winwood, the original blue eyed soul boy who came from a musically supportive family and shot to prominence shortly after he joined the Spencer Davis Group in 1963 aged 15. The band had numerous chart toppers including 'Keep On Running' and 'I'm A Man'. He went on to forge a wider musical path absorbing influences including psychedelia, British folk and jazz that enhanced his R n'B sensibilities. He did this with Chris Wood, Dave Mason and of course Jim Capaldi who fused together to create Traffic, a successful collaboration that spawned hits like 'Paper Sun' and 'Hole In My Shoe'.

Eric Clapton was the superstar of Blind Faith. He originally became obsessed with the Blues as a teenager and joined the Yardbirds in 1963. As they went more commercial with hit single 'For Your Love' Eric left to join John Mayall's Bluesbreakers as the unchallenged master of white rock blues guitar. Eric Clapton is God was a well documented graffiti of the time as his stature further grew with Cream. This power trio of Clapton, Ginger Baker and Jack Bruce were each heralded as fully blown rock stars enjoying major international commercial success with hit singles and sell out concerts for their loud, blues inspired inventive music that featured extended solos and improvisation.

Blind Faith's Ginger Baker also came from the critically acclaimed Cream. After gigging with jazz ensembles, his wild rhythmic style moved on to R&B outfits led by Alexis Korner and then Graham Bond. His ferocious unconventional playing, that had got him the sack in some of his early bands, developed into a creative force that was admired by numerous other recognized rock and jazz drummers and it has often been said that he was the greatest drummer in the world.

The final member of Blind Faith was bassist Rick Grech who joined the Farinas that eventually evolved into Family a progressive, arty folk rock band from Leicester. Rick did not come from the same rock royalty as the other members of Blind Faith but had been admired for some time by Eric Clapton and provided the essential solid support the band needed.

Blind Faith Gig:
Well All Right
Sea Of Joy
Sleeping In The Ground
Under My Thumb
Can't Find My Way Home
Do What You Like
Presence Of The Lord
Means To An End
Had To Cry Today

Special Features
* DVD Extras Archive: Spencer Davis - I'm A Man, Traffic - Hole In My Shoe, Cream - I'm So Glad
* Photo gallery set to the sounds of 'Well All Right'
* Discography for each of the band members pre 1969

DVD 1
Introduction (Bill Murray)
Uberesso (Sonny Landreth)
Hell at Home (Sonny Landreth with Eric Clapton)
Maharina (John McLaughlin)
Rosie (Doyle Bramhall II)
Outside Woman Blues (Doyle Bramhall II)
Little by Little (Susan Tedeschi with The Derek Trucks Band)
Anyday (The Derek Trucks Band)
Highway 61 Revisited (Johnny Winter with The Derek Trucks Band)
Nobodysoul (Robert Randolph and the Family Band)
Poor Johnny (Robert Cray Band)
Dirty Work at the Crossroads (Jimmie Vaughan with the Robert Cray Band)
Sitting on Top of the World ( Hubert Sumlin with the Robert Cray Band and Jimmie Vaughan)
Paying the Cost To Be the Boss (B.B. King with the Robert Cray Band with Jimmie Vaughan and Hubert Sumlin)
Rock Me Baby (B.B. King with the Robert Cray Band with Jimmie Vaughan and Hubert Sumlin)
Sweet Thing (Vince Gill)
Country Boy (Albert Lee with Vince Gill)
If It Makes You Happy (Sheryl Crow with Vince Gill and Albert Lee)
Tulsa Time (Sheryl Crow with Eric Clapton, Vince Gill and Albert Lee)
Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain (Willie Nelson with Vince Gill and Albert Lee)
On the Road Again (Willie Nelson with Sheryl Crow, Vince Gill and Albert Lee)